The hospitality industry has long been seen as a temporary stop—a job you take while waiting for “something better.” But that perception is changing. Around the world, hospitality is gaining the respect it deserves as a craft, a culture, and a career. And nowhere is this transformation more joyful—or more rooted in community—than in the world of pubs.

In my last piece, we looked at how different cultures define hospitality. From Japan’s precision-driven omotenashi to the familial warmth of Italy and the generous communal spirit of Lebanon, we saw that hospitality is not just service—it’s soul. What all these cultures share is a reverence for the role hospitality plays in society. It’s time we brought that same reverence home.

Hospitality Is More Than a Job

At its best, hospitality is not something you do. It’s something you live. In France or Italy, for example, becoming a restaurateur or maître d’ is a career goal in itself—one that requires commitment, training, and a sense of pride. Chefs are regarded as artists, and front-of-house professionals as custodians of culture. They aren’t simply serving food and drink; they’re curating experiences, and they’re trained to do so with precision and passion.

We’re beginning to see the seeds of this shift in the UK, particularly in the pub sector. For those of us who live and breathe pubs, this isn’t surprising. Pubs have always been about more than pulling pints. They’re community anchors, places where lives intersect—first dates, farewell drinks, reunions, retirements. A great pub is a kind of theatre where the staff are not background crew, but central characters in the story.

The Joy of a Pub Career

Ask anyone who’s made a life in the pub world, and they’ll tell you: it’s hard work—but it’s also deeply rewarding. There is a joy in watching a quiet regular become a friend. In seeing new team members grow in confidence. In knowing that you’ve created a space where people feel at ease, feel welcome, feel like they belong.

This isn’t a job you sleepwalk through. The best pub careers are built by those who bring themselves fully into the role. It’s about having heart, humour, grit—and yes, a little showmanship. Because whether you’re behind the bar, in the kitchen, or running the floor, you’re creating atmosphere. You’re setting the tone for every conversation and celebration that happens under your roof.

And here’s the best part: more and more pubs are beginning to recognise the value of the people who make them special. Training programmes, mentorship schemes, and internal promotions are becoming the norm, not the exception. We’re seeing a rise in pub managers who started as part-time bar staff, and chefs who’ve gone from washing up to head of kitchen through sheer talent and tenacity.

Pride, Purpose, and Progression

There’s a growing understanding that hospitality offers not just a living—but a life. A pub career can now mean progression, recognition, and personal growth. It can mean learning how to manage a team, run a business, cook beautiful food, or design unforgettable guest experiences. And perhaps most importantly, it means making a real impact on real people’s lives—day in, day out.

Hospitality at its heart is about service—but not in the old-fashioned, deferential sense. It’s about service as connection, service as care, service as joy. And when you can make a career out of bringing joy to others, that’s something to be proud of.

As we take inspiration from global hospitality leaders, we must also celebrate what’s happening on our doorstep. The pub is evolving—and so is the pub career. It’s time to see this not as a fallback, but as a future. Because when hospitality is done right, it’s not just a job. It’s a calling.

Woody (Edward) Barlow, founder of Bear Inns, has worked in the hospitality industry for over 30 years, opening and establishing a number of award-winning venues. Woody is a member of the voting academy for Top 50 Gastro Pubs and is passionate about creating amazing pubs that have a joyful, lively atmosphere created by people, not only its guests but those delivering genuinely great hospitality.